Thursday Devotional - Our Christmas Letter and Picture 2023 (12/21/2023)

 

With cries for peace, it’s comforting to know Jesus offers security! Our recent verse in our BSF John study was John 8:12. Jesus said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  

We rang in the new year with my sister, Mary, and her family in Texas! Then, it was back to our busy school, work, Bible study, music and exercise activities! Not long into the new year, Joe rented a cherry picker to cut down a huge tree in our yard. Thankfully God helped him finish before several big ice-storms!

James and Alexis improved and competed in gymnastics while Sarah transitioned to an excellent new equestrian center doing jumps. Edmund played soccer for the first time and really caught on quickly (scoring most of the goals each game).

James and Sarah excitedly practiced for their first children’s opera at the Detroit Opera House! Less excitedly, they continue piano practice each morning before school, but they do enjoy lessons with aunt Jane much better than with me!

All four kids were asked to sing the National Anthem for some patriotic events in our community and rose to the challenge. They also daily practiced and weekly competed on a swim and dive team this summer. Edmund and Alexis were terrified of the big pool at first, but Sarah reminded them God is always with them! Yes, may you also experience His presence today and always! 

Merry Christmas from the Reas!

(Joe, Alice, James (11), Sarah (9), Edmund (7) and Alexis (7))

Thursday Devotional - 2021 Rea Christmas Picture and Note

 

With many of you possibly taking days off next week, I thought I would include our Christmas card picture and note this week…

Studying Jesus in the book of Matthew (through Bible Study Fellowship), we all memorized Matthew 1:21 “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Sarah gets to join James and me for in-person BSF Tuesday nights! The twins get special time with my Dad those nights, while Joe works. 

Speaking of salvation, Edmund and Alexis became part of our spiritual family this year, before they were officially part of our earthly family! After re-signing stacks of papers and re-doing the entire adoption hearing, it was finally final in July!

James (3^rd grade) and Sarah (1^st grade) continued tennis lessons with my Dad and increased a level at gymnastics. James enthusiastically continued Spanish with my Mom, choir with his aunt and cousins, and (not as enthusiastically) piano with me. Sarah was on cloud nine for horse-back riding lessons with cousins! 

All four kids proudly completed several running races this summer and fall. They amazed Joe and me with their perseverance! Now, sometimes one of them asks me to go running (instead of the other way around).

I pray you enjoy time celebrating Jesus this season!!!

Merry Christmas!

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Imperfect Picture

The Old Testament tabernacle, temple and sacrificial system were all put in place as a representation of Heaven and foreshadow of what Christ would do to give us access to Heaven. It was a picture of what was to come. It wasn’t a perfect picture, because the sacrifices didn’t really pay for our sins and the priests couldn’t forgive.

Hebrews 9:1-3, 7-9 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. ² A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. ³ Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place… But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. ⁸ The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. ⁹ This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.

God’s specific details, long-term plans, and creativity never ceases to amaze me!!! He had His plan of redemption planned out well before giving Moses the Law, before calling Abraham, and before flooding the world. He even gave hints of His plan to Adam and Eve after they sinned (Genesis 3). He knew we couldn’t do anything to pay for our own sins. He knew we couldn’t do anything to earn forgiveness and bring about restoration. He had to do it all, and do it all He did!  

Have you ever gone on a trip and been blown away by the beauty you saw? It was far better than the pictures you saw online ahead of time. The pictures didn’t do it justice. Similarly, let’s experience and appreciate the benefits of the new covenant with direct access to God and true forgiveness!     

Alice

Thursday Devotional - 2018 Christmas Letter/Picture

For this week’s devotional, I thought I would include our Christmas letter and picture that we’re in the process of sending out.

Merry Christmas! Every year life seems busier, but God knew just what we needed as we faced several health crises for my parents, asthma attacks for James, another basement flood and decision dilemmas. We clung to verses such as Psalm 59:16 “But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”

James (6) started kindergarten! He loves that his grand mom comes for reading time and lunch on Mondays. This Fall he also started going with me to Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and kept me accountable to learn the weekly memory verse with him. Gymnastics is another new favorite activity for him and Sarah.

Sarah (4) loves preschool three mornings a week! Her teacher said she sang to (and calmed down) a kid throwing a tantrum. Most importantly, she accepted Jesus as her personal Savior (partially through James’ invitation). The Holy Spirit’s work in her life is evident. She uses memory verses to encourage others.

Joe continues to counsel. In his free time, when he’s not dealing with a rental unit problem, he tackles our never-ending home projects. We both enjoy this year’s new BSF study and having the same leadership role! At church, we started teaching our preschool class and continue with the pre-service prayer team. In addition to work, I continue to write the Thursday devotional for believers at work (and externally post at: https://trdailydevotional.blogspot.com).

I pray you and I will seek and focus on God and His gift of Jesus our Savior, whether Christmas is merry or not.

Psalm 27:1-2, 7-8 and 13-14        

The Lord is my light and my salvation—   whom shall I fear? ²The Lord is the stronghold of my life—   of whom shall I be afraid?

⁷Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. ⁸My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”   Your face, Lord, I will seek.

¹³I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. ¹⁴Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Alice